The Lygaeidae are a family in the

Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from ...

(true bugs), with more than 110

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

in four subfamilies. The family is commonly referred to as seed bugs, and less commonly, milkweed bugs, or ground bugs. Many species feed on seeds, some on sap or seed pods, others are

omnivore An omnivore () is an animal that regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize t ...

s and a few, such as the wekiu bug, are insectivores. Insects in this family are distributed across the world. The family was vastly larger, but numerous former subfamilies have been removed and given independent family status, including the

Artheneidae Artheneidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. It was previously classified within the family Lygaeidae. Approximately 7 genera and at least 20 described species belong to the family Artheneidae. Genera These seven genera belong t ...

Blissidae The Blissidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), comprising nearly 50 genera and 400 species. The group has often been treated as a subfamily of the Lygaeidae but was resurrected as a full family by Thomas Henry (1997). The adult insects ...

Cryptorhamphidae Cryptorhamphidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, ...

Cymidae Cymidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 12 genera and at least 60 described species in Cymidae. Genera These 12 genera belong to the family Cymidae: * '' Ashlockia'' Hamid, 1975 * '' Cymocoris'' Popov, 1986 * ' ...

Geocoridae Geocoridae is a family of big-eyed bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are more than 290 described species in Geocoridae. Subfamilies and Genera The ''Lygaeoidea Species File'' includes five subfamilies: Australocorinae # ''Australocoris'' Malip ...

Heterogastridae Heterogastridae is a family of lygaeoid bugs consisting of about 20 genera and more than 100 species. The group has been considered a subfamily, tribe and subtribe, but most recently has been restored to family status.Henry, T. J. 1997. Phylogen ...

Ninidae Ninidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 5 genera and 14 described species in Ninidae. Genera These five genera belong to the family Ninidae: * '' Cymoninus'' Breddin, 1907 * '' Neoninus'' Distant, 1893 * '' Ninom ...

Oxycarenidae Oxycarenidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, ass ...

and

Rhyparochromidae The Rhyparochromidae are a large family (biology), family of true bugs (order Hemiptera). Many species under Rhyparochromidae are commonly referred to as seed bug (disambiguation), seed bugs, as are other species within the wider Pentatomomorpha ...

, which together constituted well over half of the former family. The bizarre and mysterious

beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

-like Psamminae were formerly often placed in the

Piesmatidae Piesmatidae is a small family of true bugs, commonly called ash-grey leaf bugs. The Piesmatidae are distributed mostly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with some occurring in Africa, Australia and South America. A common species found through ...

, but this is almost certainly incorrect. Their true affiliations are not entirely resolved.

Distinguishing characteristics

Lygaeidae are oval or elongate in body shape and have four-segmented antennae. Lygaeidae can be distinguished from

Miridae The Miridae are a large and diverse insect family at one time known by the Synonym (taxonomy), taxonomic synonym Capsidae. Species in the family may be referred to as capsid bugs or "mirid bugs". Common names include plant bugs, leaf bugs, and g ...

(plant bugs) by the presence of

ocelli A simple eye or ocellus (sometimes called a pigment pit) is a form of eye or an optical arrangement which has a single lens without the sort of elaborate retina that occurs in most vertebrates. These eyes are called "simple" to distinguish the ...

, or simple eyes. They are distinguished from

Coreidae Coreidae is a large family (biology), family of predominantly sap-sucking insects in the Hemipteran suborder Heteroptera. The name "Coreidae" derives from the genus ''Coreus'', which derives from the Ancient Greek () meaning bedbug. As a fam ...

(squash bugs) by the number of veins in the membrane of the front wings, as Lygaeidae have only four or five veins.

Subfamilies and selected genera

An incomplete

list of Lygaeidae genera These 114 genera belong to the family Lygaeidae, seed bugs. There are at least 980 described species in Lygaeidae. Lygaeidae genera * ''Aborsillus'' Barber, 1954 * ''Acanthocrompus'' Scudder, 1958 * ''Achlyosomus'' Slater Alex, 1992 * ''Acrobrac ...

is subdivided as:BioLb.cz
family ground bugs: Lygaeidae Schilling, 1829 (retrieved 26 October 2021) ;subfamily

Ischnorhynchinae Ischnorhynchinae is a subfamily of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. There are about 16 genera and more than 70 described species in Ischnorhynchinae. The members of this subfamily are small, terrestrial insects that typically translucent or tra ...

Stål, 1872 * ''

Crompus ''Crompus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. ''Crompus'' are terrestrial insects in the Ischnorhynchinae subfamily of seed bugs that are endemic to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a cou ...

'' Stål, 1874 * ''

Kleidocerys ''Kleidocerys'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), with more than 110 genera in four subfamilies. The family is commonly referred to as seed bugs, and less commonly, milkwee ...

'' Stephens, 1829 ;subfamily

Lygaeinae Lygaeinae is a subfamily of ground bugs in the insect family Lygaeidae. Genera Genera within this subfamily include: # '' Achlyosomus'' Slater Alex, 1992 # '' Acrobrachys'' Horvath, 1914 # '' Acroleucus'' Stal, 1874 # '' Aethalotus'' Stal, 1874 ...

Schilling, 1829 * ''

Lygaeus ''Lygaeus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. There are more than 60 described species in ''Lygaeus''. Species These 69 species belong to the genus ''Lygaeus'': * '' Lygaeus alboornatus'' Blanchard, 1852 * '' Lygaeus analis'' D ...

'' Fabricius, 1794 * ''

Oncopeltus ''Oncopeltus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae, which has at least 40 described species. Species These 40 species belong to the genus ''Oncopeltus'': * '' Oncopeltus atrorufus'' (Guerin, 1838) * '' Oncopeltus aulicus'' Fabrici ...

'' Stål, 1868 * ''

Melanocoryphus ''Melanocoryphus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), with more than 110 genera in four subfamilies. The family is commonly referred to as seed bugs, and less commonly, milk ...

'' Stål, 1872 * ''

Spilostethus ''Spilostethus''Stål C (1868) ''Hemiptera Fabricana I. K. svenska VetenskAkad. Handl.'' 72. is a genus of bugs in the family Lygaeidae (seed bugs). Most species in this genus are from the Palearctic and Oriental regions. Species These species ...

'' Stål, 1868 * ''

Tropidothorax Tropidothorax is a genus of seed bugs or ground bugs belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.There are about 11 described species in ''Tropidothorax''. Species These species belong to the genus ''Tropidothorax'': : '' Tropidothor ...

'' Bergroth, 1894 ;subfamily

Orsillinae Orsillinae is a subfamily of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. There are at least 110 described species in Orsillinae; the type genus is '' Orsillus''. Tribes and genera The ''Lygaeoidea Species File''Nysius ''Nysius'' is a genus of false chinch bugs in the family Lygaeidae. At least 100 described species are placed in ''Nysius''. Like other seed bugs, some species in the genus have proven to be crop pests of wheat and other grains (including ''N. ...

'' Dallas, 1852 * ''

Orsillus ''Orsillus'' is a genus of Palaearctic bugs, in the family Lygaeidae; it is the type genus of the subfamily Orsillinae and tribe Orsillini. Species are recorded from Europe and includes ''O. depressus'' which has become naturalised in the Brit ...

'' Dallas, 1852 ;subfamily † Lygaenocorinae ;Unplaced genera * '' Lygaeites'' Heer, 1853 The Pachygronthinae Stål, 1865 (type genus ''

Pachygrontha ''Pachygrontha'' is a genus of seed bugs and allies in the family Pachygronthidae. There are more than 30 described species in ''Pachygrontha''. Species These 37 species belong to the genus ''Pachygrontha'': * '' Pachygrontha africana'' Slater ...

'' Germar, 1840) may be placed here or elevated to the family

Pachygronthidae Pachygronthidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 14 genera and more than 80 described species in Pachygronthidae. Genera These 14 genera belong to the family Pachygronthidae: * '' Cymophyes'' Fieber, 1870 * '' D ...

Gallery

File:Lygaeus turcicus.9.17.08w.jpg, False milkweed bug, ''

Lygaeus turcicus ''Lygaeus turcicus'', the false milkweed bug, is a species of seed bug in the family Lygaeidae. It is found in Eastern North America. Description The false milkweed bug is widely distributed across the eastern United States and Canada. It prima ...

'', on Asteraceae flower File:Small Milkweed Bugs.jpg, Small milkweed bug, ''

Lygaeus kalmii ''Lygaeus kalmii'', known as the small milkweed bug or common milkweed bug, is a species of seed bug in the family Lygaeidae. It is found in Central and North America. Taxonomy ''Lygaeus kalmii'' was first formally named in 1874 by Swedish ento ...

''), nymph (bottom) and mature (top) File:Milkweed bug on a butterfly weed.jpg, Large milkweed bug, ''

Oncopeltus fasciatus ''Oncopeltus fasciatus'', known as the large milkweed bug, is a medium-sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae.Attisano, A. (2013) Oosorption and migratory strategy of the milkweed bug,''Oncopeltus fasciatus. Animal Behaviour 86(3):65 ...

'', on a butterfly weed File:Oncopeltus varicolor ssp. stalii.jpg, ''

varicolor'' ssp. ''stalii'' File:Milkweed bug drilling.webm, thumbtime=2,

Large milkweed bug ''Oncopeltus fasciatus'', known as the large milkweed bug, is a medium-sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae.Attisano, A. (2013) Oosorption and migratory strategy of the milkweed bug,''Oncopeltus fasciatus. Animal Behaviour 86(3):65 ...

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

feeding Eating (also known as consuming) is the ingestion of food. In biology, this is typically done to provide a heterotrophic organism with energy and nutrients and to allow for growth. Animals and other heterotrophs must eat in order to survive – ...

milkweed ''Asclepias'' is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to huma ...

before extracting its stylet, sheathing it again in its

rostrum Rostrum may refer to: * Any kind of a platform for a speaker: **dais **pulpit ** podium * Rostrum (anatomy), a beak, or anatomical structure resembling a beak, as in the mouthparts of many sucking insects * Rostrum (ship), a form of bow on naval ...

References

External links

''Lygaeidae''
BugGuide {{Authority control Heteroptera families